Jewish Atheist

An agnostic atheist perspective
from a once orthodox Jew.

TYT interview with Todd Stiefel, founder and president of Stiefel Free Thought Foundation, one of the leading atheist groups in the country.

Really enjoyed this interview. Check it out.

Anonymous asked: I'm an ex baalas teshuva, and I'm just curious, do you think your parents would rather see you at the opposite extreme of being ultra-frum rather than completely secular? My parents were quite happy when I "toned down" my religious observance, but since your parents are orthodox, I was just curious if they had the same reaction or they'd rather see you Yeshivish than completely secular.

I think from a religious perspective, they’d rather I still be super-frum instead of OTD, but I also think they kinda enjoy the person I am now. Much more fun. So I think they’re a bit torn. Of course, they just want me to be bit frum, even if it’s a weak form of modern orthodox, though at this point I think they’d be happy if I was even just a bit orthoprax, doing stuff for high holidays and such - which I pretty much have no interest in.

It’s kind of funny, bc they were freaked out when I returned super frum from Israel. (I mean, super frum!) As I slowly became less religious, it probably got closer to resembling their beliefs and level of observance. I’m sure they enjoyed that. But yeah, I kept rolling until where I am now.

And just realized I forgot to call my dad for father’s day! yikes… brb…

Where the disobedience leads…

polishadventure2013:

In the book of Esther we read about Haman who wanted to kill the Jewish people. But it is very interesting to get to know the whole story of those people. Haman was the descendant of the Amalekites. Few centuries before that occasion the Jewish king Saul was supposed to kill all Amalekites for they were the evil nation, they attacked women, kids. But Saul decided to act more wisely. He saves women of the Amalekites. What happens later is the descendant of Amalekites wants to pay back, he probably knows only that part of the story that Jews are guilty of attacking their people but doesn’t know the whole truth. The whole nation is under threat because of the disobedience of one.

God knows better what He is doing because he sees the whole puzzle, the whole picture, because he is the maker, creator. We should trust him and obey whatever he tells us to do.

Yes, lessons from ancient stories which are at least heavily embellished if not entirely made up are a good way to rationalize anything, particularly blind faith in a god no matter what it allegedly commands, including genocide. Makes perfect sense.

Anonymous asked: hey hey! im the one who asked if you believe everything was random... how could all the intricate details of everything be an accident? even one single eyeball has soo much going on and so many details and so many things in our body have to be doing things exactly right for us to be healthy and function...how could it be that thats all an accident? O.o

Did you read what I wrote about evolution? It uses mutations as raw materials - and that part is random - but the process by which certain features are selected, that is “natural selection”, is not random. So evolution isn’t a random process, though it has random elements, but it’s also not an intentional process either.

If you haven’t already, I recommend reading a few books about evolution.

mrs-neildegrassetyson asked: I made a deal with myself to read 2 chapters from a book every day this summer and learn something new so my head doesn't get totally mushy, and I find myself coming to your blog most of the time for the 'something new' part. Just thought you should know how great your blog is.

Thanks so much! I’m actually looking forward to getting my brain real mushy after graduation (today!) and the next few weeks, but yeah, I need some good literature and novel ideas in my life. Cheers =]

thewallsofjerusalem:

Charedi Judaism -

Belt on her Weapons of War*

Thursday, Parshat Chukat, on MA”Sh street

*Yeah it sounds a bit weird but it’s kind of idiomatic, Biblical language - I ran it by a native to make sure I had it right. Basically they’re pi55ed off about the draft and they’re “going to war” about it. The number of times the pashkvilin use this image of “going to war” against going to war is kind of amazing.

Interesting new blog. Just started following and am digging it. Check it out.

“Two nations are in your belly, and two peoples will emerge from your loins…” (Bereishis 25:22-23)

hishbati-eschem:

…We know that the worst enemies faced by the Jewish people are its internal enemies. Jews who dress like gentiles, talk like gentiles, and eat non-kosher food do not have much influence on good Jews. Whatever they say will probably be ignored. The real danger is the Jew who dresses like a Torah Jew, does mitzvos, goes to the synagogue, studies Torah, and yet spreads heretical ideas….

Today we face both the secular Zionists and the religious Zionists. But members of this latter group pose the greater threat because of their observance and dedication to the Torah. Furthermore, secular Zionism as an ideology is becoming increasingly weak over the years as the secular Jews’ connection to Judaism grows weaker. Religious Zionism, on the other hand, continues in full force, and threatens to dominate the Jewish people. We must give our attention to fighting the influence of this dangerous movement.

rofl

I’m not even a zionist or religious, but this insanity is too funny. Classic sect-fighting. “Our way is the only real way!”

Clearly judaism has its own dangerous fundamentalists as well.

(Source: )